Top Ten Tuesday 28 - My Top Ten Video Game Siblings

Disclaimer:
There are many top ten lists, but this one is mine. If you think a
game is missing here, I either didn't play it, didn't have any
interest in it, or I just hate you.

Pre-List
Notes

For
Mother's Day week I did my Top Ten Moms, and the same with my Top Ten
Dads for the week of Father's Day. Just because there is no
Sibling/Brother/Sister Day doesn't mean I won't do an applicable
list, however. Sibling rivalries and relationships are a classic in
any narrative, and I love seeing them in gaming. I have fond memories of playing Double Dragon and Mario Bros. with my older brother, and nurturing my younger sister's love of gaming from an early age. My favorite siblings in video games portray them in a positive, loving relationship, have an interesting history, and/or are iconic figures in gaming.

My
Top Ten Siblings

10)
Nana and Popo (Ice Climbers)

I
never actually played the original Ice Climbers, and like most folks
was introduced to this hooded duo through the All Star cast of Super
Smash Bros. Brawl. Nana and Popo are color coordinated blue and pink
- to signify that they are brother and sister of course, and wield
mighty hammers without leaving each other's side.

9)
Cooke and Mack (Lost Odyssey)

Witnessing
your mother die and reuniting with your immortal grandmother and
grandfather would be pretty stressful for anyone, but Cooke and Mack
have an incredible amount of resilience, and their love for each
other is fierce and constant throughout the adventure.

The
protagonist's younger sister Lymsleia is heir to the throne of
Falena (which is passed mother to daughter). After the events of the
too-long beginning sequences she becomes the Queen and despite her 10
year old stature is incredibly adept at navigating the murky waters
of politics as well as providing assistance to her brother whom she
dotes on. Her character is extremely reminiscent of Queen Amadala
from the Star Wars prequels, only much better written!

7)
Palom and Porom (Final Fantasy IV)

The
classic silly named twins from FF4 are also probably the most famous
twins in video gaming, and certainly amongst JRPG fans. Providing the
dichotomy of the two main schools of magic - destructive Black
Magic and curative White Magic, the two can combine their abilities
in "twincast" to cast super powerful spells. Their personality
serves as comic relief in the adventure as the two bicker like any
young, closely aged siblings with Palom being an egotistical show-off
and his sister being the responsible and mature one that has to keep
him in line.

6)
Raine and Genis (Tales of Symphonia)

As
a pair of half-elves that had to hide their identity, Raine and Genis
had a close bond crafted out of their lack of family and support from
the world they grew up in. Genis was the young but powerful mage
while Raine served as the even-keeled historian and scholar, and
definite protective mother to her younger brother. Out of everyone on this
list their age is the most disparate, and it makes for an interesting
relationship. Raine's role in combat reflects her personality as the
group's primary healer and den-mother, while her younger brother
remains the reckless mage.

5)
Billy and Jimmy (Double Dragon)

Funnily
enough, The brothers Lee have become astonishingly recognizable and
iconic siblings in video game lore, despite only starring in an
average Beat 'Em Up series in an age where they were a dime a dozen.
Still, you can't beat some awesome side scrolling co-op gameplay, and
the color coordinated bros got the job done by punching and kicking
their way through hundreds of 80s punks to reach their captured
girlfriend. Wait, their girlfriend? Yeah the brothers aren't exactly
the sharing type, and famously battle each other to see who wins
Marians affections (presumably it's all she cares about).

4)
Magus and Schala (Chrono Trigger)

By
far the darkest sibling tale on this list, Janus and Schala were
royalty born in the kingdom of Zeal in 12,000 B.C. When their mother
the Queen attempted to harness the power of a sleeping intergalactic
planet devourer (seriously, how is that a good idea), it creates a
rift in space-time and the young prodigious mystic is sent forward in
time to the timeline's Middle Ages, while his sister seemingly
sacrifices herself to save Crono and friends from the impeding doom
by sending them back even further in time in an attempt to prevent
the disaster. In the Middle Ages Janus is adopted by the monster
population and viewed as a god and prophet, and he takes the name
Magus, vowing to gain more power to defeat the gigantic god-like
creature known as Lavos. Eventually he joins up with Crono and
company in an attempt to defeat Lavos (if you want him to) and he
will be more than happy to face down his own mother should you travel
to that timeline again as revenge. It's strongly hinted that his cold
aloofness has only one soft spot, and that is reserved for his sister
whom he never stops believing is still alive.

3)
Edgar and Sabin (Final Fantasy VI)

The
brothers and princes of Figaro were at odds after the death (murder)
of their father - the brash Sabin wanted to run away and train to
be a powerful warrior, leaving politics to his somewhat more
responsible brother Edgar. Edgar decided a coin toss was the only
fair way to solve who would rule the kingdom and who would leave. As
fate (or Edgar as it's revealed if you have certain party members with you during
another use of the trick coin) would have it, Edgar ends up ruling at
Figaro castle while Sabin gets to leave and pursue his dream knowing
his brother would make a far better King. The two later rejoin during
the events of Final Fantasy VI, aiding and eventually joining the
Returners, and Sabin admits after the end of the game that he only
left to become strong enough to protect him and his brother. The coin toss backstory remains one of my favorite little moments in gaming.

2)
The Hero and Nanami (Suikoden II)

My favorite version of the "older over-protective sister" trope that
JRPGs love to use is in Suikoden II. Throughout the epic adventure
of betrayal, war, hope, and loss, your older sister Nanami almost
never leaves the hero's side, and their team-up attack is effective
enough to make you want to take her with you whenever you have a
choice. She is the classic doting older sister, but is written in a
way that makes it much more endearing than annoying, and during the
events of the climatic battle she sacrifices herself to save her
brother in the ultimate form of protection. Hope you found all 108
Stars of Destiny....

1)
Mario and Luigi (....seriously?)

When
making a list of video game siblings, there can be only one pair at
the top. Mario is the single most recognizable character in all of
gaming, and the title of the main series is Super Mario Bros, so the
choice is pretty obvious. Although Luigi seems to always lurk in
Mario's shadow, he's gotten his chance to shine in a select few
games...which mostly involve rescuing his brother. The brothers have
held almost as many jobs as Homer Simpson these days and many times
Luigi is little more than a color palette swap, but the pair remain a
mainstay in our culture, and Nintendo finally seems to have gotten
the hang of out to use them simultaneously with the New Super Mario
Bros and Mario and Luigi series.

Wrap
Up

Although
it shouldn't have been that surprising, I was still astonished that
my list is nearly completely dominated by JRPGs, as was my Top Ten
Moms list (Dads are seemingly much more common in Western games, at
least those that I enjoy). Some famous non-JRPG siblings are from
modern series that I haven't played, such as Metal Gear Solid and
Devil May Cry. I enjoy great sibling relationships even more than
parental ones (though I feel the player-as-parent hasn't been
explored enough) and love seeing closely bonded brother-sister
relationships, which most of this list reflects.